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Re: Good night to COI 2005!

Thank you for everyone's advice on the lamination. I need to fix the banner first though, before I go ahead and do that. At that time, I will probably revisit this thread again.

I have a very poor memory, but let me try and recap a few broad things. I am very bad at taking notes during a show, trying to note which jumps were performed by what skater - granted, if I had a laptop in hand I probably could have faied a lot better.

The day started out pretty rushed, what with Yvonne and I trying to get things ready for the show, making sure we had everything before we left her apartment, then picking up Kate and then finally heading out to Plums around 10:30, getting there around 11:45 It's a restaurant out in Costa Mesa that has absolutely delicious and unique breakfast food. I believe Kate had an omelet, and Yvonne and I ordered the french toast (which I'm not sure Yvonne liked?) - anyhow, I really enjoyed my meal, even though our wait was around 45 minutes, meaning that we didn't get to the luncheon in time - and got there around 1:20?

We had to drop by the Pond to pick up our tickets first, and luckily Kate found this guy who had two extra tickets to sell, fourth row, off center, that we quickly gobbled up because the woman at the box office told us, to our disbelief that there were no lower level seating left but that the seats might later be released later.

It was nice to see everyone at the luncheon, if not a bit rushed since everyone left about 15, 10 minutes to 2, and the show started at 3. (I guess to get settled and to give us ample time to walk around the arena). I was overjoyed to see Anna since I hadn't seen her for more than a year - it was at the Worlds gathering last year that I saw her last. Sharon and her sisters (hi!! *waves* -- your shirt is coming ), ggyy, babyoscar, Corbon91, Liz, El Segundo99, Chansamone&Tall Boy, imzadi and her friend, Antoinette Aubert, rationality52, michellesmom. I just *know* that I probably have forgotten someone and if I have, I apologize beforehand - I wish I could have mentioned everyone and talked and mingled with everyone.

Rationality52/Jack, was absolutely a sweetheart for bringing boxes of stuffed animals for us to choose from, asking everyone to take some in case we ever have the opportunity to go to an event. That way, we will have stuffed animals to throw onto the ice. Thank you : ) An MKFan with quite a heart.

My banner was not permitted into the building to my disappointment, of which I then decided I would try and take it in backstage if I got a chance to. As we (bannanak, kjesse, Skatingfan2002, ggyy) walked towards one of the entrances by the box office, I caught a glimpse of a girl that looked a lot like Karen. She was dressed up in a wifebeater type tank top, with lots of chains around her neck, tight tight jeans with fitted high heel (very thin heels) boots that went up to right below her knee. Everyone else said it couldn't have been Karen, but we later found out that it was. The moment was kind of funny because the girl wasn't tall enough, or she didn't dress like Karen usually would (full of class). She actually reminded me of what a Japanese singer would wear... so lol, class or not, the girl was trendy.

I think I'm going to shorten my review by a lot right now... because I foresee a novel in my future.

The show itself. I think people around me were probably annoyed by me (which I apologize in case someone was sitting next to me and wanted to mangle my head...) because Yvonne and I were trying to wave Evan and Pearl down once we were in our seats. But they failed to see us throughout the entire time we were flailing our arms.

The man behind us was very loud... he started off talking about Scott Hamilton and how he could really put on a show, blah blah blah - I got the feeling he knew a thing or two about skating, but it was the small girls that he brought with them that were the real skaters. Althroughout the show he would laugh out loud, make comments... but I think my screaming might have drowned him out in some parts. Overall though, it was nice to have someone who was more enthusiastic than I was sitting around me. And the nice people who sold me my seats to my right were just as pleasant - and seemed to really enjoy watching the skaters.

Throughout the entire opening, I tried my best to figure out what setting to use for my camera. I regretted not checking the forum one more time to see what belladella's suggestion on her camera was - so I ended up with pretty dark, but crisp photos in the opening (fast shutter speed, not enough aperture, shutter priority), and decided to go back to the normal mode that I use which was aperture priority, but became more of a trouble to get a clear picture. Anyhow, it was frustrating and almost amusing how of all the pictures, pics of Rudy came out the clearest and the best, followed by Sasha.... ( dot dot dot )

Ahem,... I am not going to review the skaters in order, or mention all of them because as I have said, I have a very poor memory - so you'll just be reading a whole bunch of "beautiful, blah blah blah... "

The show was terrific, and for me, a much better one than last year. There were no falls (save Katie's fall in the ending) and everyone seemed pretty much on.

When Michelle came out for the opening I came out and cheered and I admit, I almost fell on my butt to the floor because I was so excited when I sat down after my ovation (oops....) I'm pretty sure there were a lot of roll eyes from all angles if they were looking at me.

Viktor didn't do much for me, though I enjoy him as a person - I was glad that he was still out there, trying - I even missed Brian Boitano actually. I didn't think it was anything particularly special.

Jennifer Kirk was absolutely beautiful and stunning in red (which Kate mentioned earlier) and I loved the Madonna Evita mix. It suited her well and she seemed to really enjoy herself out on the ice.

Pang & Tong were my favorite by far. They emitted a lot of emotion, long strokes, huge throws and landings, beautiful positions. I'm looking forward to this pair next year, as well as S&Z to return. lots of oohs and aahs and applause.

Dan's skit/program was a doozy. It was nice to see something completely different, creative and smart come out of that man again. The guy sitting behind me was cracking up - and I'm glad to see so many people around me got a kick out of it, because I thoroughly enjoyed her performance

The acrobats were great too - I don't remember what their routine was last year, but it didn't much stand out in my head, but at least I know it wasn't the tutus fluttering around. The speed skating, basketball stunt, the potpourri mix was just a lot of fun and I really enjoyed them, as did the people around me.

I absolutely hate "Oops I did it again", but on the other hand, I love singing to the song, so it made it that much more fun watching Irina skate - looked as though she was singing along to it and enjoying it. I don't like Irina's skating at all - and she did way too many Biellmann's for my enjoyment, I was starting to roll my eyes. I think my favorite part of her program was my ability to remember the lyrics to the song I'm not a fan of her skating, nor am I a fan of how she's acted on the ice in the past few years... so not an Irina fan I am.

Amber looked like she was having a fun time out there - and though I've never been a fan of hers, it was nice to see her on the ice, just because she's skated for so many years - it must have been pretty special to her.

I loved the ice dancers - Tanith & Ben were awesome, as were Marina & Gwendal (nice to see them again), but for some reason I fail to remember anything about the music they skated to and Marina and Gwendal stick out more in my mind than B&A did.

I usually find Katie & Garrett pretty boring, but they also pleasantly surprised me, and I actually sat back and enjoyed their skating somewhat...?

And Elvis, the girl sitting next to me almost had a heart attack when he came out. (yes.. that would be Yvonne ) I love Elvis, and though I know exactly what kind of routine he's going to do, what kind of butt movements and hand movements, I always enjoy his programs because what can I say, I love the guy. Whooee Canadian in da house! I didn't like the lighting so much, as it was lots of orange-ish/reddish hues.

Johnny, Timmy - all a blur, my apologies... same with Rudy, though he seemed to be having great fun on the ice too. I'm missing a gripload of other skaters but brain...... dead?

And Michelle of course. Do I remember anything of this program? No, not really, except for the wonderful 3/2/2 that she did on the other side on the ice. I need two pairs of eyes. one to take pictures with, the other to watch a program. I ferociously took pictures althroughout the program, unable to fully enjoy it (>.<) but at least I've got ggyy's video to go back and watch. Great edges, speed and she was always moving. What I did watch, I can't remember, it was, as I said, just a blur.

The ending was great, I hate cowboy music, but it was well put together and it seemed like everyone was just very relaxed and was looking forward to the ending of the tour. They seemed energized by this fact and by the time Michelle came out she looked like she was having a blast with a ton of grins and her just looking as cute as a (insert whatever you think is cute here) - and interacting with the other skaters like Elvis, etc.

Okay, that's it for my show review. I'll come back with a short backstage review, but dinner calls....

Re: Good night to COI 2005!

I'm not going to write much about backstage, except that watching Michelle handle the banner was very funny. Hopefully I'll have video (from Skatingfan2002) to post of it eventually.

I would have posted a lot sooner had I accomplished my mission - but guys, I tried. Heather and I thought it would be great if I could get Michelle to say hi to MKF on my video camera, but due to my excitement and lack of explanation to kjesse in how to use my camera, it failed to record.

I also told Michelle that Heather might not attend Nationals, and Michelle "flipped" out. It was so cute. She said that Heather should "beware the wrath of kwan"

Anyhow, Michelle did tell the rest of us "hi". I had hoped to ask her if she had anytime, she could post here, but lol, I had too many things on my mind to get that out. However, I did write it in a small note to her with the "Little Book of Wisdom by the Dalai Lama". I also gave her Cole50's scrapbook pages to contribute to our huge scrapbook.

Everyone else was pretty friendly backstage, and I took a lot of pictures of banannak, kjesse and Yvonne with the skaters. My fun point of the event was when I told Jian that bannanak thought he was very handsome - Qing I think snickered or laughed. Of course Anna had no idea since I said all this in chinese. I repeated it incase he didn't hear me, but lol, he gave no reaction He explained that his english name was "Jessim(?" Help me here.. I think it's Jason actually is what he said?

Tee hee... Jennifer commented on how she loved skating to fun music and that skating to her LP was very hard because well, it wasn't fun.

It was neat to see Michelle leave in her way suave corvette, and it was even more neat to see skaters making a point to say goodbye before she left - Timmy gave her a huge hug and spun her around to say goodbye. other skaters that I saw give her a hug - Angela, Amber, P&T. There were more, a couple of guys, but I couldn't catch who.

She looked great, as you can tell by her photos - the girl is F-I-T.

Anyway, enough of that, here are the pics that I took, enjoy! most of my pictures are horrible (re on ice, sorry, I'm still learning!)

Re: Good night to COI 2005!

I figured out what I'm going to do next year: Lets see.....extra front row center ice ticket $250.....round trip plane fare for either Babyoscar, or Corbon $400.....having some really GOOD pics of C.O.I. Chicago.....You guessed it...Priceless!!! (Just kidding) But that's not what I did this year, so here are the pics that I took. Some of them look kind of cool in a pop art 60's retro kind of a way. Look at the shots of Surya upside down during her back flip. Go through all of them though, toward the end I snapped Tanith and Amber, standing right in front of me. I should have asked them to turn around-they might have-but I have to admit I was skater struck, and overcome by the pure joy of seeing them all there, and for a few seconds each--6 feet away.

Also, check out the other stuff on this photo-site. You may have seen some of them before, in some of my previous posts. The camera that I used is great for well lit stills. look at the pics of the awesome Michael Jordan statue. Thank you all for your reviews, pictures and a really fantastic thread.community.webshots.com/user/davespectral
Dave

Re: re. COI Reports

I did get some shapshots when the skaters were on line signing the autographs. It wsas a disposable Kodak digital camera.
The pictures of MK were at times cut in the head, as fans kept pushing to get her autograph or pictures. There's a pic of her,were there seems to be a penmark on her nose,but she still looks adorable.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/el.../my_photos

Re: re. COI Reports

hey guyz! omg i finally got my piccys up from the chicago COI show! um..there's kinda just sum random pics at the top so just scrol down a lil 4 the COI 1's and then there's sum on the 2nd page 2. the on ice pics kinda suck but i just put them on there anywayz lol! o and my backstage 1's came out all dark in the back 4 sum reason..but they still look betta than the on ice 1's! whatever i dont care i aint a pro photographer haha. i didnt get a pic backstage with michelle cuz she waz sick so srry i dont have a backstage pic of her! ok here ya go!!

Thanks Everyone

I've so enjoyed all the reviews and photos. You guys are great to share. I don't know if I'll ever get to go to a competiton or show (hoping for St. Louis Nationals or the St. Louis COI Olympic tour) but in the meantime, I enjoy seeing through your photos and thoughts. MKF folks are the best in the world.

Re: Thanks Everyone

Grace -

I still don't believe you said that to Jiang/Jason. There I was just rambling on to him and meanwhile he's probably going "would someone please shut this woman up? She's old enough to be my mother!" If you weren't one of my fav's I'd have to hurt you!

It was a great time. Unfortunately none of my show pictures came out worth a damn. Luckily for me - Evan's are killer!

Jack - I love the stuffies. So generous of you. Look for the ducks on the ice at Nationals in St. Louis...

Re: Thanks Everyone

First off I'd just like to thank all those who attended a COI show then shared that experience by posting a review and/or pictures. (Maybe one day I'll make the time to learn how to link up photos, it's on my to-do list).

Since I don't have anything to add to Grace's review of the Anaheim show, and I'm not going to try to follow ggyy's hilarious account of us poor peons begging to reuse other patrons passes after the show, I just want to take this time to say that it was great meeting members of this forum. It's so nice to be able to put a face to a name.

AMAubert, husband Richard, and son Marshall: it was a pleasure sitting with you at lunch in the restaurant - granddaughter, Haley, enjoyed being with some one her own age, too!

Izzy: really enjoyed "visiting" with you on our walk from the restaurant back to the Pond's parking lot following lunch.

Babyoscar: good seeing you again. Thank you for taking a picture of Haley and Bebe for me with your camera - (because stupid Nana had her camera buried in the bottom of her backpack :b ) Hope to see you at the Artesia rink in the near future. I'm so happy that you were able to nab a pass in time to get autographs from all (or most) of the skaters. You deserved it for driving almost 4 hours to see the show.

ggyy and Imzadi enjoyed "hanging" while trying to scare up some passes. ggyy if I had a pass I would certainly "recycle" for you!

Anna, kjesse, chansamone, Sharon, Donna and Shallah, Corbon - sorry I didn't get to talk with you , but at least I got to say hi. Maybe next time.

Jack - thanking you again for the stuffed animals. Too bad we couldn't throw them on the ice after Michelle performed. But my Granddaughter DID manage to give Michelle a yellow bunny just before she hopped -pun not intended- into her WOW Corvette. If you look really close at Grace's picture of Surya "walking," between the legs of the skaters you can make out bits and pieces of a little munchkin with her arms wrapped around Michelle's waist (bit of a white tennis shoe, jeans, striped, pastel, long-sleeved shirt). She ran out, encouraged by Michellesmom and myself, to give it to Michelle as she was saying goodbye to all the skaters being that it was the end of the tour.

Michellesmom: so nice to finally meet you. Wasn't introduced to you at the 2002 Olympics party in Torrance, but understandably not many were in the mood for chit-chat that night. Just want to add that you have a lovely daughter.

Grace - we didn't meet this time, or at least we weren't introduced to one another, hopefully there is an MKF get together planned before too long. Artesia has a nice ring to it for a meeting place. I understand that Corbon recommends an Hawaiian restaurant that happens to be in that neighborhood.

My granddaughter has a few things she would like to add to this ramble. Her favorite parts of the show were the acrobats, Don Hollander - who she just loves. She remembers his routine from 2 years ago! when she was four - of course Michelle Kwan - because I've done a good job brainwashing her, but she'll thank me when she gets older She commented on IS because she recognized the music. Also, in her first grade class when she was asked to name 3 famous Americans she wrote Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Brittney Spears.:rollin Oh, she missed the hula hoop girl this year. Recognized the Star War music. During the finale she went down to the rail (we were seated in the section by the tunnel) and she got to high-five Elvis, did a little hand-clapping dance with Ben A., and had another encounter with Michelle. This while all the skaters were waiting there cues to go out onto the ice.

I did manage to get IS autograph because she passed us walking to the parking lot with friends (she didn't go on the bus). She told everyone who was holding out something for her to sign that she was in a hurry because she was late. But, she did sign and I thought acted very gracious in doing so.

Lastly, michellesmom, her daughter, my gg and I finally got some discarded passes. Of course, most of the skaters had passed and were boarding the bus and saying their goodbyes to Michelle, but I did manage to get Gwendal to sign my book. So it wasn't all for naught. Most importantly, I got to enjoy the comraderie of the MKF'ers"

Re: Thanks Everyone

Anna -

LOL, Yes, I know it's a good thing I'm one of your faves, but lol, hey, they were cool about it - and nah, I didn't detect him thinking you were psycho at all. Remember he discussed his name with us after I told him that you thought he was handsome?

I'm waiting for your pics and your videos!

youngatheart:
Oooh! That was *your* granddaughter? We were wondering who it was - we thought it might have been someone that knew her. How cute, and how wonderful to see her hugging Michelle!

I hope I will get the chance to meet you this summer when we all make our East West Ice Palace excursion. I'm serious, does anyone want to go skating? : ) I should get my skates sharpened there while I'm at it. I was thinking that I didn't get to meet you this time around, and was also disappointed that some members that had signed up to go, did not appear.

Addendum to my review:
Check out the downloads section for a small video (thanks to Yvonne/Skatingfan2002) regarding the banner section of our backstage experience:p216.ezboard.com/fmichell...=168.topic

Re: Thanks Everyone

Thanks everyone for the COI reviews. I loved all your pics and backstage stories. Michelle looks fantastic and I'm glad she's going to have some vacation time. California looks like a fun ,bright place to be in!

First thing I noticed was the handle of her bag, then I confirmed in the other pictures. Our girl is carrying a Chanel Cambon reporter bag. You go girl! I am a HUGE Chanel fan, own 7 of them but still cannot let go of $3250++ for that Chanel reporter bag.

Gary, I was thinking of organizing it for either July or August, especially since we will be honored with the Dear Admin herself. Also, smileyllama and Coles50 will also be around at the same time, so if we can target the trip then, that would be good. I hope everyone is able to give me some feedback though.

Champions on Ice 2005 Merchandise Discount

Just thought I'd share this information regarding discounts on 2005 Champions on Ice merchandise. Many of you may know about it if you're on their mailing list.

Dear Champions Club Member:

The 2005 Tour has ended and we are getting ready to re-design our website for the 2006 Tour. As a result of the tour ending, we would like to offer all Champions Club Members HUGE discounts on 2005 Tour merchandise! Beginning Wednesday, May 25 most of the merchandise in our online store will be greatly discounted. These discounts will only be available through Tuesday, May 31 so shop early! The website will be under construction and unavailable starting June 1.

Thank you for all your support! We look forward to seeing you in the Fall!

mechandise

I bought off the website a couple of months ago. :b Im still looking for the last beanie bear i need from the 2001 tour that they had on there. the red beanie. I have the 2003-2004 and 2005 books already. i got lucky enough to send them a check. they gave me the champions on ice website. . So many neat things on there though. will have to wait til my birthday. :rollin